National Campaign to Save Public Health Care: Get Involved!

May 8, 2009, 2:54 PM EST

The Canadian Health Coalition has launched a national campaign to save public health care in Canada and is urging concerned citizens to get involved.

Michael McBane, national coordinator for the Canadian Health Coalition, warned Canadians against the threat that private, for-profit health services pose to public health care. He said Canadians have consistently indicated they want improvements to public health care, not a two-tier for-profit system.

The Canadian Health Coalition (CHC) is using the slogan "Privatized, For-Profit Health Care: You'll pay more and get less" to highlight the dangers of accepting claims that more privatized, for-profit services can be incorporated into Canada's health system without harm.

The CHC is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to protecting and expanding Canada's public health system for all Canadians. The CAW is one of many member organizations that are part of the CHC and is represented on the CHC board by CAW staff representative Robert Buchanan.

Buchanan notes that we already have absolute evidence from our long-term care system that for-profit health care is not in the best interest of Canadians. "Nursing homes run by these multi-national corporations are accountable only to their shareholders, who do not identify with Canadian values, and are driven only by the bottom line. Privatization here has only resulted in less front-line care being delivered and more profits," Buchanan said.

The campaign was launched in New Brunswick on April 15 and will feature town hall meetings across Canada. To find out more about the CHC campaign, visit: www.healthcoalition.ca